Methanol Production:

How CH3OH is produced:

Methanol is produced from synthesis gas (carbon monoxide and hydrogen), itself
derived from oil, coal or, increasingly, biomass. It may become central to the
development of bio refineries as an intermediate in the conversion of biomass to useful
products.
Ethanol can be produced from a variety of feedstocks such as sugar cane, bagasse,
miscanthus, sugar beet, sorghum, grain, switchgrass, barley, hemp, kenaf, potatoes,
sweet potatoes, cassava, sunflower, fruit, molasses, corn, stover, grain, wheat, straw,
cotton, other biomass, as well as many types of cellulose waste.
The density of methanol, a colorless organic liquid used as solvent, is 0.7918 g/mL.
Calculate the mass of 89.9 mL of the liquid.

Why Poisonous:

It is detected through its spectral emission lines. Methanol when drunk is metabolized
first to formaldehyde and then to formic acid or formate salts. These are poisonous to
the central nervous system and may result in blindness, coma, and death.

Uses:
a. It is the simplest form of alcohol and has a distinctive odor that is similar to ethanol
(drinking alcohol), but slightly sweeter. Methanol is a polar liquid at room
temperature. It is used as antifreeze, solvent, fuel, and as a denaturant for ethanol.

b. Methanol is an alternative fuel for internal combustion and other engines, either in
combination with gasoline or directly ("neat"). It is used in racing cars in many
countries.

c. Ethanol is used extensively as a solvent in the manufacture of varnishes and

perfumes; as a preservative for biological specimens; in the preparation of essences
and flavorings; in many medicines and drugs; as a disinfectant and in tinctures (e.g.,
tincture of iodine); and as a fuel and gasoline additive (see gasohol).

How Volatile is Methanol:

Methanol is a liquid chemical with the formula CH3OH (often abbreviated MeOH). It is
colorless, volatile, flammable, and poisonous. Methanol is made from the destructive
distillation of wood and is chiefly synthesized from carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Is it Harmful:

Methanol is extremely toxic to humans if ingested or if vapors are inhaled. Ingestion of

as little as one to four ounces can cause irreversible injury to the nervous system,
blindness or even death. Methanol can cause poisoning, systemic acidosis, optic nerve
damage and central nervous system (CNS) effects.
 Why Methanol is toxic but ethanol is not toxic?

Methanol has to first be turned into formaldehyde in the body. Humans have an enzyme
called alcohol dehydrogenase, which oxidizes alcohol compounds (adds an oxygen,
effectively.) If you drink a beer, the ethanol is converted to acetaldehyde which is a
slightly toxic intermediate.

What is alcohol fuel?

The first four aliphatic alcohols (methanol, ethanol, propanol, and butanol) are of
interest as fuels because they can be synthesized chemically or biologically, and they
have characteristics which allow them to be used in internal combustion engines.

Can you mix methanol and ethanol?

As Lotus has demonstrated, since ethanol and methanol can be readily mixed, a
blend of 10% ethanol the U.S. base gasoline with an additional 10% methanolis
attainable. Methanol can provide all the octane needed for a mid-level alcohol fuel, but
at a third of the cost.

What is methanol poisoning?

Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is a commonly used organic solvent that,
because of its toxicity, can cause metabolic acidosis, neurologic sequelae, and even
death, when ingested. It is a constituent of many commercially available industrial
solvents and of poorly adulterated alcoholic beverages.